Niagara Falls Anti-Racism Committee

Committee Members

The following members were appointed by council in 2023:

  • Saima Abbasi
  • Donna Brown
  • Sherri Darlene (Chair)
  • Vijay Kapur
  • Katy Kumar
  • Janet Madume
  • Pranshu Patel (MYAC rep)
  • Council Rep: Lori Lococo

Reporting Hate Crimes and Incidents

The Anti-Racism committee supports someone who has witnesses or been a victim of hate to report to the Niagara Regional Police.  It is important for these to be reported so we have the data on hate crime in our community.

For more on Hate Crime and Incidents check out the NRPS website or send an email to [email protected]  

Committee Events & Actions

culture box logoThe Niagara Falls Anti-Racism Committee has created this resource of books that tell the stories of historically underrepresented groups specifically related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and culture.  

Many on our committee grew up with books in which they did not see themselves represented in them, and they know that the industry and institutions are getting better, however, this resource will provide an important step at providing many ways for children to see themselves, or understand different perspectives.  Books are powerful and we think that this resource will provide change and progression.

We have worked with the Niagara Falls Library to develop this resource and utilize their expertise.  The project is nine boxes containing books for classes that are Kindergarten to Grade 8.

We hope you enjoy the stories told in The Culture Box and take advantage of this great resource.  It is available for educators, community groups and many others to explore different stories and perspectives to provide a better understanding of the world we live in. 

Interested teachers can go to the Library’s catalogue here: https://nfpl.info/CultureBox. The Culture Box they place on hold will be available for pick up at the Library’s Victoria Avenue location and can be borrowed for a period of six
weeks.

event poster

Countering Hate at Home: Communities Resist the Rise of Right-wing Extremism

June 27, 2022

While the surge of right-wing extremism in Canada predates the onset of COVID, the pandemic has provided additional fodder to feed the conspiracy theories and disinformation that inspire the far-right. I will explore the emerging patterns that characterize the contemporary movement, while providing some thoughts about how local communities can – and have – faced down hate at home.

In light of recent events very close to home, the Niagara Falls Anti-Racism Committee is hosting this event to provide a better understanding of the rise of extremism and the impact it has on our community.  Please register for this important discussion.

Barbara Perry is a Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Ontario Tech University, and the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She also holds a UNESCO Chair in Hate Studies, a field in which she has written. She is currently working in the areas of anti-Muslim violence, antisemitic hate crime, the community impacts of hate crime, and right-wing extremism in Canada. She is regularly called upon by policy makers, practitioners, and local, national and international media as an expert on hate crime and right-wing extremism.

Meeting Schedule for 2024

All meetings are virtual.

  • January 15

  • February 26

  • March 18

  • May 27

  • July 15

  • September 16

  • November 18